Agent picked up for public intoxication and resisting arrest did his employers no favors in a bad year for them

A Secret Service agent who worked President Obama's south Florida visit yesterday was found passed out on a Miami street today, CBS reports.

Agent Aaron Francis Engler was discovered unconscious on the sidewalk by police in downtown Miami early this morning. When Engler came to, police say he became combative, at which point he was handcuffed, arrested, and revealed to be a US Secret Service agent in town for a visit by the POTUS, who by then had long left the area.

Engler told the officers he'd been drinking heavily, and was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest without violence before being handed over to the Secret Service and returned to DC.

As CBS notes, Engler's arrest comes in the wake of an already bad year for the Secret Service. In April, a prostitution scandal in Colombia involving several of its agents became news for weeks, and marked a low point for the organization's reputation.

@idlbeokay_bob - If for some odd reason you left the president in charge of your lawnmower I wouldn't doubt it. Of course, that's kind of strange that the president would be overseeing your lawn care. Then again, he might barely be qualified for that.

@idlbeokay_bob if your lawnmower was liberally powered,then it would condemn the grass for growing,if that was unsuccessful maybe it try to appease the grass by giving it fertilizer,if that was unsuccessful then your mower would probably bury itself and try to become grass

Well, he was off duty. No doubt he had a long week. Who knows if he's liberal or conservative? The question is, how good is he at his job WHEN he IS on duty? Everybody needs a little down time, ever here of a drunken Sailor, drunken Marine?

Let me just start by saying that when these guys are off-duty, they are just as free as we are. They should be able to do what they want to do, where they want to do it and when they want to do it...as long as its legal. If any of you have never had a few too many, good for you. Your choice.

@Creole they are humans like the rest of us and to be human is to mess up every once in awhile .... If it was while he was working ok broadcast it and make an example out of him but in down time .... Demote him and let it go :) ....

I'm not condoning the behavior, but you really have to cut these guys a little bit of slack. They are expected to be on 24-7, at some point they're going to cut loose. Perhaps instead of chastising, we should insure that they have a proper outlet.

Thruout History there has always been those that unwind after a days work. George Washington had some pretty wild parties back in the day with guest drunk falling out the windows, passed out on the White House Lawn. At least the guy still had his clothes on when getting caught in an awkward position while having an off day.

FYI -- Secret Service Agents are PEOPLE too. They have just as many issues & problems in their life as anyone else. If someone where you work gets drunk & acts like an asshole, does it mean you do too? No.